Apr
18
2023

A Similar Greeting

I went to a large high school.
There were 4,000 students in the entire school.
There were 1,000 students in my graduating class.
Only the first student and the last student were named at our actual graduation ceremony.

All the students in between those two names were graduated on the spot, en masse.
We all threw our hats in the air at the outdoor ceremony.
And just like that, four years were completed.
And just like that, many of us went on to college.

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Apr
11
2023

The Shape Behind The Blinds

Posted in Faith | 4 Comments

My son, daughter-in-love, and two granddaughters were here for the weekend.
They came a few days before Easter.
It was lovely to have the extra time with all of them.
My oldest granddaughter came through the back kitchen door with a wide smile on her face.

Hi, Grandma, she said happily after knocking on the door, which is too heavy for her to open.
I’m sleeping over at your house! She said joyfully.
You are, I agreed.
I’m so excited about that! I said and I meant it.

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Apr
4
2023

Where Did They Go?

Posted in Holy Week | 2 Comments

I sat in church a few Sundays ago and witnessed a baptism.
What joy when someone comes to faith in the Lord Jesus and makes a public testimony.
What a privilege to witness their obedience to the Lord Jesus and be baptized in His name.
To be buried with Him in His death and be raised with Him to new life.

The baptismal pool is in the front of our church.
It is under the wooden cross.
The pool itself is behind a low wall.
The person being baptized is seen from the waist up to any of us sitting in the congregation.

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Mar
28
2023

Hand Painted Basket

Posted in Family Life | 2 Comments

I enjoy switching the seasonal decorations around my house.
Little touches here and there that help set the tone for the particular time of year.
The seasonal flag outside on of our garage doors gets changed frequently.
There is something comforting in the rhythm of the seasons.

Easter decorations are out now.
Bunches of silk forsythia in a large vase just beg to be touched to see if they’re real.
Heavy porcelain eggs in a special dish purchased many years ago, are on the dining room table.
Adorable rustic bunnies, on my Hoosier cabinet, were made by a Mennonite woman.

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Mar
21
2023

Roundabout Way

Posted in Salvation | 2 Comments

It was my husband’s birthday weekend.
To have a birthday on St. Patrick’s Day, and have the last name of Gallagher, is quite special.
He and I celebrated his birthday on his actual day.
The following day we had a family dinner.

We had seen our son and daughter-in-love, who live in Virginia, the weekend before.
We always FaceTime anyone who is not physically here.
It helps make sure that everyone is included.
How our grandchildren love to “help” blow out the birthday candles.

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Mar
14
2023

Bought Back People

Posted in Salvation | 2 Comments

I am so glad that I saved most of my children’s toys.
They are still in great shape.
They have been well loved and well used.
They are now the toys of the next generation.

My grown children are nostalgic when they see certain toys come out again.
There is the bin that has all the little figures from Happy Meals back in the day.
Muppets, Fraggles, Sesame Street characters, and Berenstain Bears.
Winnie the Pooh, Princesses, Little Bear, and even Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe figures.

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Mar
7
2023

Can You Fix It?

Posted in Salvation | 2 Comments

It was a sleepover at Grandma’s house this past weekend.
We had three of our grandchildren here, Friday afternoon until Saturday after dinner.
Favorite toys were set up in the family room.
The gates were placed near the front stairs for our one-year-old grandson who loves to climb.

Our two granddaughters, his sisters, love to ring the doorbell when they arrive.
It doesn’t matter that the garage is open for the entire family to come inside.
They like to ring the doorbell because they like to surprise me that they are here.
Of course, an Academy Award performance on my part is in order.

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Feb
28
2023

Ear Buds

I am an auditory learner.
I truly remember everything I hear.
Perhaps that is why Whispers are so important to me.
I pay close attention to the sounds around me.

I am not always good at remembering names.
I wish I was better at that skill.
However, I do remember everything I have talked about in conversation with someone.
I remember all the details and minutia that others have long forgotten.

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Feb
21
2023

My Dilemma

I went to a wonderful conference this past weekend.
Writers, poets, artists, and musicians were all in one place.
We all were refreshed and rejuvenated.
I was so grateful for the time away and for the time with other creative people.

As I walked back to my hotel, it was quite windy.
I pulled my coat tighter around me.
I was at the traffic light waiting for the signal to tell me that I could walk.
There was no one around, since it was a bit late.

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Feb
14
2023

Tea Time

Posted in Daily Living | 2 Comments

I am very possessive about my tea time.
It is the one hour of every day that just belongs to me.
It is the one hour of every day when I can sit with my feet up for a bit.
I look forward to that time tremendously.

I have been having my tea time for many years.
I even had that special tea time when my children were young.
However, it was only for a half hour back then.
It was, and is, my way to relax and refresh my spirit.

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